The Gulf Fritillary butterflies have been very busy around the lantana today.

Hummingbird Update:  I think I've seen one of the final hummingbirds this season.  It was the tiniest little thing, maybe just a couple inches long.  So cute.  I'll keep the feeders up just a bit longer to make sure the younger and weaker ones get some sustenance for their journey south.
The Grand Hotel is a migration stop for the Monarch butterflies on their trip to Mexico for the winter.  We found hundreds of them in bottle brush plants on the well-maintained grounds.
We had a restful stay in a nice soft bed, with a down comforter, and a cold air conditioner.  You don't get that in every hotel.  After a delicious breakfast--crabmeat and spinach omelet, Baldwin County stone ground cheese grits, crispy bacon, Conecuh sausage, and fresh fruit--I made one more stop to see the Monarch butterflies.
While there, I ran into this older gentleman who was fascinated with the butterflies.  He was delightful to talk to.
I went to Magnolia Springs to help my brother board up my mom's windows in anticiation of Hurricane Isaac.  He had other help, so I was able to wander around to find insects to photograph.  I like the look of this skipper, mid-flight, with it's rolled up tongue.  A little different twist on a common insect.
LTD_2012-07-03_0893_2
Female Eastern Black Swallotail Butterfly (Papilio polyxenes)
This Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly was searching for something to eat among the fading azaleas.  I don't think he found very much because he didn't hang around very long.
LTD_2011-11-20_0083
The Gulf Fritillary butterflies have been very busy around the lantana today.

Hummingbird Update: I think I've seen one of the final hummingbirds this season. It was the tiniest little thing, maybe just a couple inches long. So cute. I'll keep the feeders up just a bit longer to make sure the younger and weaker ones get some sustenance for their journey south.
The Gulf Fritillary butterflies have been very busy around the lantana today.

Hummingbird Update:  I think I've seen one of the final hummingbirds this season.  It was the tiniest little thing, maybe just a couple inches long.  So cute.  I'll keep the feeders up just a bit longer to make sure the younger and weaker ones get some sustenance for their journey south.
The Gulf Fritillary butterflies have been very busy around the lantana today.

Hummingbird Update: I think I've seen one of the final hummingbirds this season. It was the tiniest little thing, maybe just a couple inches long. So cute. I'll keep the feeders up just a bit longer to make sure the younger and weaker ones get some sustenance for their journey south.
See photo in original gallery.